Apparatus for rifting granite or analogous stone



Dec. 6, 1932. w, s, MAR-HN l 1,890,187

APPARATUS FOR RIFTING GRANITE OR ANALOGOUS STONE yv] rf ,/qllorney Inventor Dec. 6, 1932. w. s. MARTIN 1,890,137

APPARATUS FOR RIFTING GRANITE 0R ANALoeoUs STONE Filed Aug. 23, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [miv/1111111101101@ vlllllllil, I

Inventor iiorney Dec. 6, 1932. wl. s, MAR-11N l 1,890,187

APPARATUS FOR RIFTING GRANITE OR ANALOGOUS STONE Filed Aug. 23,1932 5 sheets-sheet 3 l/qllornely Patented Dec. 6, 1932 UNTED STATES PATENT Felice WILLIAM S. MARTIN, OF MOUNT AIRY, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO THE NORTH CAROLINA GRANITE CORPORATION, OF MOUNT AIRY, NORTH CAROLINA APPARATUS FOR RIFTING GRANITE OR ANALOGOUS STONE Application filed August 23, 1932.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in the rifting or grooving of granite or other stone for the purpose of causing said granite or stone to be rifted or opened up along the lines of its natural cleavage or in the intended direction, by repeated blows from a reciprocating tool; also to groove granite or other stone when the purpose is to form a channel in said granite or stone.

In accordance with the present invention means is provided for supporting the tracing tool in a manner to be readily moved over the stone during the grooving or rifting operation, together with guide means including supporting rails for a carriage carrying the tracing tool and a slot between the rails and parallel thereto for accommodating the tool during the rift-ing or grooving operation.

The invention will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus showing the manner of using the same.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the carriage.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the guide to be hereinafter more fully referred to.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the guide.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Figure 5, and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the tracing tool.

Referring more in detail to the drawings it will be seen that my improved apparatus includes what may be termed aguide, the same being designated generally by the reference character 10. In the present instance the guide comprises a pair of angle plates 11 of suitable length, and the horizontal flanges 11b of the plates are connected at their ends by spacer blocks 12 arranged between the vertical flanges 11al of said angle plates and secured in position through the medium of Serial No. 630,133.

lbolt and nut means 12. r1`he spaced parallel flanges 11a of the angle plates thus form a guide slot 13 extending longitudinally for substantially the full length of the guide 10. The horizontal flanges 1lb of the angle plates have riveted or otherwise secured thereto as at 14 strips of felt or other suitable similar material 15, which extend longitudinally of the flanges 11b and are applied to the under faces of said flanges.

Rails 16 in the nature of cylindrical rods re secured to the top faces of the flanges 11b adjacent thel outer longitudinal edges of said flanges, and are welded or otherwise secured to the flanges. lThe rails 16 as shown in Figure 5 entend for substantially the full length of the flanges 11b.

There is also provided a carriage designated generally by the reference character 17 and the same comprises a platform 18 suitably supported by pairs of front and rear wheels 19 that are grooved and engage the rails 16. The platform 18 of the carriage is provided at the front and rear end thereof with handles 20, while intermediate its ends the platform is provided with opening 21. Rising from the platform Y18 adjacent the opening is a standard 22 von which is suitably mounted a bracket 23 provided with upperV and lower clamps 24. Clamps 24 may be of any suitable design and are preferably of the two-part type as shown in Figure 1 and are adapted to embrace the casing of a pneumatic power drill 25 of any conventional make.

In accordance with the present invention a tracing tool 26 of any conventional design is provided, and is suitably connected with the drill 25 for receiving vibratory power therefrom. The tool 26 extends downwardly through the opening 21 in the platform and through the slot 12 in the guide 10 as will be clear from a study of Figure 2.

In actual practice the guide 10 is placed on the top face of the block of granite or .block of other material to be rifted. As shown in Figure 2 the felt strips 15 are engaged with the top face of the granite block 27 and obviously when the carriage is mounted on the guide, the weight thereof will, in conjunction with the strips 15 serve to prevent movement of the guide 10 relative to the block 27. The carriage is placed on the guide 10, with the wheels 19 engaging the rails 16. The carriage is then moved longitudinally of the guide 10, and during t-his movement of the carriage the drill 25 is in operation for reciprocating the tool 26, which latter working in the slot 13 cuts into the block 27 for rifting or grooving the block 27 on a'line defined by the slot 13. y

Obviously with an apparatus embodying the features Vof the present invention a straight groove may be provided in the block and the work of rifting a block is reduced to a minimum and at the same time greater accuracy in the rifting operation is obtained.

Even though I have herein sho-wn and described the preferred embodiment of the in- 4 vention, it is to be understood that the same 2`0` is susceptible of further changes, modifications and improvements coming within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what n I claim as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, a guide for rifting purposes comprising-a pair of angle irons, means connecting said irons together in spaced parallelism, with the vertical flanges of said irons arranged in slightly spaced relation and forming therebetween a slot extending longitudinally of the guide, compressible strips secured to the undersurfaces of the horizontal flanges of said l angle irons, a carriageinovable over said angle irons, and a riftingy tool mounted on the carriage including a power driven tracing element arranged to operate in said slot. 2. In a device of the character described,

a guide fora rifting tool comprising a pair of spaced parallel plates forming between their corresponding edges a longitudinal slot, and fabric pieces secured to said plates on the n undervfaces thereof for rest on the granite block or the like to, be worked.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a guide for rifting purposes comprising a pair of spaced parallel plates forming a slot therebetween, rails mounted on said plates,

Y a carriage having wheels engaging said rails,

a drill supporting means lmounted on said carriage, a drill supported by Vsaid means and a rifting tool having a driving connection with said drill and arranged to operate through an opening in the platform of said carriage and the aforementioned slot.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM S. MARTIN. 

